One of the most important conclusions reached after delving into this first chapter of the standard is that “BIM is getting older.” This is the least we can extract from the 5 key points we analyze below.

1. BIM maturity.

The publication of an ISO standard has consolidated the concept that BIM is here to stay, in case there were still some clueless people who doubted it. This represents advance at a technical level, but also at a strategic level where it is already difficult to justify that any advance in the sector does not go through integration within the BIM methodology.

2. Scalability.

In this case, we should say more than “BIM gets bigger” than BIM gets small, too. And one of the most disturbing points of the principles of the standard is the one that contradicts that pseudo-slogan/justification that said that “BIM is only for large projects.”

BIM is for all types of projects. Thus, in the very introduction of the document it is stated that this standard “is applicable to built assets and construction projects of any size and level of complexity”.

Although it is obvious that not all projects are the same, and that their structure is unleashed by that size and level of complexity. For this reason, emphasis is placed on this concept of scalability: “They must be applied in a proportional manner and adapted to the scale and complexity.”

Currently, its application in practically all mega-projects is already a reality. However, the benefits of applying the BIM methodology could be considered even proportionally higher in the cases of “Little BIM”, where it is easier to guarantee control over its application. In any case, the team structure, requirements and objectives must be adapted to the characteristics of the project.

3. For everyone:

Another reason why we consider that BIM “grows” according to this standard are the roles and agents that are cited as its recipients.

”The concepts and principles of this document are directed at all those involved in the asset life cycle. This includes, but is not limited to, the owner/operator of the asset, the customer, the asset manager, the design team, the construction team, an equipment manufacturer, a technical specialist, a regulator, an investor or an end user.”

That is, the transversality of information management within a project is highlighted. This is especially important to understand that the BIM methodology, and the management of its associated information, has to be something that involves all company departments, and is not something that can be maintained in isolation or in parallel. BIM models, for example, are information containers where departments such as finance, legal or administration will also have to go to consult information related to their tasks.

4. Throughout the cycle:

Another concept that has been expanded in this standard is that of the application cycle.

Thus, in the main prerequisite document, the EIR (Exchange Information Requirements), it is specified that both project information requirements (PIR-Project Information Requirements) and those referring to asset information (AIR-Asset Information Requirements) must be accommodated.

“This document applies to the entire life cycle of any built asset, including strategic planning, initial design, engineering, development, documentation and construction.”

As expressed in the following diagram, the project development phase is located as a small part of information management compared to the operation phase and emphasis is placed on the transition phases (A and C) where the transfer of information from the project carried out or to be carried out to the asset and vice versa occurs.

Legend: A    Start of the development phase-transfer of relevant information from the AIM to the PIM B    Progressive development of the initial design model in the virtual construction model _C    End of the development phase- Transfer of relevant information from the PIM to the AIM_Simplified extract of the diagram  the UNE-EN ISO 19650-1 standard These transition phases A and C are key points of the process.

The first, A, would coincide in most cases with the development of the building project, where the asset information, if any, is extracted (from the building to be demolished, the plot of land, or the building to be renovated, for example) to be used during the project.

Part C corresponds to the entry of information from the project development phase to the operation part of the building, which would coincide with the delivery of information and/or AsBuilt models.

It should be noted that the scalable nature of this cycle is highlighted, which would apply to any intervention on an asset in any state in which it is found.

5. All information:

It is not a new concept, since both the title of the standard “Organization and digitalization of information (...)” and in the acronym of BIM itself, information appears as the key to the entire process_._

The truth is that the management of this information is once again the main aspect of the standard, and its structuring within the CDE (Common Data Enviorment) one of the pillars on which Pas 1192 was already based, and continues to be this ISO 196500 Standard.

[caption id="attachment_1371" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Simplification of the common data environment (CDE) scheme proposed by the UNE EN ISO 19650-1 standard[/caption]

What did appear new and very interesting to us with respect to the information is the introduction of a key concept such as the granularity of the information.

This concept of granularity emphasizes the fact that the information provided must be the minimum necessary to satisfy each requirement. That is to say, more information than necessary will not help in the development of what is proposed, but rather will hinder the correct use of that which is necessary.

At the same time, its importance is even indicated by stating: “The granularity of alphanumeric information should be considered at least as important as that of geometric information.”

Therefore, at the level of definition and/or development of the information, it must always be subject to the achievement of the proposed objectives.

We can conclude then that for BIM development, the most important thing will be:

Right information, in the right place, at the right time.

Finally, in our next entry, we share a diagram that will give us a global vision of the concepts provided in the second part of the BIM ISO 19650 standard.